<div align="center"></div> <font color="red">Rockets (6-12)</font> at <font color="brown">Trailblazers (6-13)</font>Sunday, December 11th, 2005 Rose Garden, Portland, Oregon Game Schedule: 8:00 CT; FSNSW and NBATV <div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets <font size="1">(David Wesley, Tracy McGrady, Ryan Bowen, Juwan Howard, Yao Ming) </font></font> <font color="brown">Blazers <font size="1">(Sebastian Telfair, Martell Webster, Zach Randolph, Sergei Monia, Joel Przybilla)</font></font> <div align="center"></div> Inside the Numbers <font color="red">Rockets</font> Leading Scorer: Tracy McGrady - 23.0 PPG Leading Rebounder: Yao Ming - 8.9 RPG Assist Man: Tracy McGrady - 4.4 APG The 'X' Factor: Derek Anderson (11.1 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 2.6 APG) <font color="brown">Blazers</font> Leading Scorer: Darius Miles - 18.2 PPG Leading Rebounder: Zach Randolph - 8.6 RPG Asisst Man: Sebastian Telfair - 4.5 APG The 'X' Factor: Sebastian Telfair (10.9 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 4.5 APG) <font color="red">Rockets - David Wesley & Tracy McGrady</div> <font size="1"><div align="left"></font>Wesley has turned the corner, scoring in double figures often, hitting some good shots, and playing some nice D. Hopefully, playing point and defending a rising star in the league won't take away from his streak of good games. Being a Vet and a Captain, Wesley should stay well within his game tonight, and should contribute a good amount. </font> <font color="red"><font size="1">PPG: 7.9 RPG: 3.2 APG: 2.8</div></font> <font color="red"><div align="right"></font>Tracy, in recent games, has been starting as a 2-guard, but you can be sure he will be all over the place tonight. Finally recovering from his back issues, McGrady looks on top-form, as proven in the game against the Queens.. er, Kings. McGrady should further the education of Webster, a kid that made the jump from highschool. The offense flows so much smoother with McGrady in the line-up, and tonight should be a big one for him. <font color="red"> PPG: 23.0 RPG: 7.3 APG: 4.4</div></font></font> <font color="brown"><div align="center">Blazers - Sebastian & Martell Webster</div> <div align="left"><font size="1"></font> Telfair is one of the most promising young prospects in the NBA, his court vision is rated highly amongst other guards, and he will try to abuse Wesley with his speeed. Not much of a pure offensive threat, Telfair really runs the show for Portland, and given the time, he can do good things with the ball. But time is something the Rockets, especially Jeff Van Gundy, use to their advantage. Telfair shouldn't abuse the Rockets like Hinrich and Gordon did, but a few dimes and some points would be expected. <font color="brown">PPG: 10.9 RPG: 2.2 APG: 4.5 </font></font></div> <div align="right"><font size="1"></div>Webster will have his hands full most of the game, especially if he's caught defending McGrady. Not a potent offensive threat himself, Webster doesn't have many things on the defensive end he can exploit, either. Whether or not Tracy has a big game depends on how quickly the double comes, or if McMillan chooses to play Randolf on him. <div align="right"><font color="brown">PPG: 5.9 RPG: 0.9 APG: 0.2</font></font></div> <div align="center"> <font color="red">Rockets - Ryan Bowen, Yao Ming, Juwan Howard</font></div> <font size="1"> What can be said about Bowen, that already hasn't been said? He's pure effort. Today should be no different, especially with him matching up with Zach Randolf. Bowen's lack of strength and speed might make him pay, but his effort and heart should outweigh the former. Offensively, Bowen hasn't much to offer, maybe an open 3 here and there. Unfortunately for the Rockets, Bowen's inability to shoot might make Yao suffer. <font color="red">PPG: 1.3 RPG: 1.4 APG: .4 </font> It seems whenver McGrady is in the line-up, the offense runs smoother. I am sure Yao can attest to that as well. With T-Mac back, Yao has the pressure taken off of him, and is able to score more effectively. Pryzbilla has given him problems in the past, atleast whenever he slashes at his back. Yao got abused pretty badly last game, getting scared and what-not, so maybe, just maybe, the refs will go easy on him. <font color="red">PPG: 19.5 RPG: 8.9 BPG: 1.5 </font> To me it seems only a matter of time till Stromile Swift fills the void at power forward. Howard's lack-luster season has left the door wide open for Swift. As he keeps learning, he should take over. Though Juwan has the abilty to hit a shot, he really hasn't been able, and on many occasions, ignored a pass to Yao and opted for an 18 footer that may or may not go in. Defensively, the match-up is favorable, playing against Monia, who's offensive game is not so polished. <font color="red">PPG: 7.4 RPG: 6.0 BPG: 0.11 </font></font> <div align="center"><font color="brown">Blazers - Zach Randolph, Sergei Monia, Joel Pryzbilla </div></font> <div align="right"><font size="1"></div> Randolph is having a good season so far, averaging arguably career numbers. The problematic forward looks to have recovered from the negative press surrounding him in years past, and will look to put the Rockets away with a good performance. Randolph is not a bad defender, and it wouldn't be suprising to see him on McGrady on more than a few occasions. <div align="right"><font color="brown">PPG: 17.4 RPG: 8.6 APG: 1.6 </font> </div> The Rookie from Russia has yet to make a contribution to the team, averaging right under 4 points a game. If Juwan Howard brings his shot with him tonight, it could terrorize the defense of the Blazers. Monia and Przybilla will try giving Yao a hard time, so the Rockets Power Forwards need to be prepared to hit the open jumper, as well as provide offensive rebounding help.<div align="right"><font color="brown">PPG: 3.9 RPG: 2.8 BPG: .29 </font> </div> Pryzbilla should attempt to use the Hack-a-Shaq method on Yao, which he has done before. Not a true threat on either end, Yao could easily abuse him if he can stay out of foul trouble. Przybilla needs to draw Yao out, and attack the basket, hoping to draw some fouls, or he will be dominated in this contest. <div align="right"><font color="brown">PPG: 6.6 RPG: 7.8 BPG: 2.37 </font></font></div> Pre-Game Notes <ul>Feed Yao First - The Rockets, when winning, have been able to get Yao the ball early. McGrady can take over whenever he wants, but Yao isn't so good at that. As long as Yao is getting the ball in good position, there is not much you can ask of him.[/list] <ul>Role Players - The issue of the Role Player is one on that will be forever debated, but either way, the Rockets Role Players need to continue their good run against the Blazers tonight. Give Yao and McGrady the confidence they need, and this game will be in the bag midway through the third.[/list] <ul>Over-thinking on Offense - On numerous occasions, the Rockets have flat out ignored smart basketball, looking for screens and running sets. Occasionally, the players need to be a bit more assertive, run their own play whenever the one drew up by Van Gundy isn't working. Shot-clock awarness is also something that should be worked on.[/list] <font size="1">Random Seinfeld Quote: Jerry: ...Over the balcony, bounced off some respirator thing *into* the patient! George: What do you mean "into the patient"? Jerry: Into the patient, *literally*! George: Into the hole? Jerry: Yes, the hole! George: Didn't they notice it? Jerry: No! George: How could they not notice it?!? Jerry: Because it's a little mint. It's a *Junior* Mint. -Junior Mint Episode (Hilarious One..) </font> <div align="center"></div> <font size="1">This should be a comfortable game for the Rockets, as long as the right people step it up. Play defense, hit your open shots, and this should be easy. The Blazers are an explosive team at times, so they should give us a scare, but I am fairly confident with McGrady back.</font> Rockets: 104 <font size="1">Grizzlies: 91</font> <div align="center"><font size="1">*All Pre and Post Game comments should go in this thread. Thanks.</font></div>
I've managed to catch quite a few Blazers games this season, and it seems to me that Darius Miles was their biggest offensive weapon. With Miles out for this game, the Rockets get a break. Randolph has taken his game more to the outside this season, and for that reason alone it makes it hard for the Rockets to defend the perimeter. Monia, Telfair and Webster can all step outside and hit the three, and Randolph is good within 20 feet. The Blazers also have a lot of fast, athletic players who will most likely abuse Wesley, Anderson and Bowen off the dribble. With a rookie guarding him, McGrady should have a great night. I'm taking the Rockets by 11 in this game.
Good win by Houston. And great play by Stephen Graham. 4pts in 25 seconds! He was so new to the team he didn't even have a name on his jersey, haha. I can't wait to see more.
We've now won 4 out of 5 games since T-Mac returned. With the exception of Yao, good contributions all round. T-Mac was dominant with help from Stro, DW and DA. Kudos to Mutombo for doing a great job off the bench. He and Stro ensured Yao wasn't missed much at center.
Lol Graham got some garbage time (35 points left) and was fouled. He hit both free throws and then hit a fast break dunk. Wow, 4 points in less than a minute, not bad. Garbage time or not.
Who is Stephan Graham and where did he come from? Show me a picture of him if you can. Thanks! Anyway too bad Yao was in foul trouble, I was looking forward to his first 30 or 40 point night of the season. Good job McGrady for taking over the game, good to see Stromile Swift improving and showing us that he is not at all a bust. I'm also glad they didn't have Darius Miles, I remember one time they did, they almost defeated the Pistons this year in the middle of their 8 win streak. That game Pistons got outrebounded and only won by 3. Oooooh, scary if that was the Portland team we were facing today. One last thing to the first post - is Juwan Howard really not that good now? I mean, he is a reliable player, who will consistently give you like 8-10 pts a night, few rebounds, defense, and people said he is very smart on the court. One very last thing...I wonder what caused Van Gundy to trust Ryan Bowen so much, anything other than his hustle? I'm glad he scored a few, is he getting better?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting houston_owns_u:</div><div class="quote_post"> One very last thing...I wonder what caused Van Gundy to trust Ryan Bowen so much, anything other than his hustle? I'm glad he scored a few, is he getting better?</div> The Rockets as a team just seem to play with more energy when he's on the court.
Juwan Howard is trying real hard and is indeed a smart player. He is just physically unfit to play the dynamite PFs in the Western Conference. Without any size or athletic ability to write home about players just go at him inside. Van Gundy trusts Ryan Bowen so much because he showed energy even when the rest of the team looked like theyd just gotten out of bed. Its not like the Houston guards were shooting a high percentage, so might as well go with Bowen's additional size and hustle. Id expect to see his minutes diminish as the other players get goin.
The biggest story of the game for me was the strong bench play from Anderson, Mutombo, and Swift. Mutombo, in particular, had by far his most effective game of the season and it was sorely needed. We were getting killed on the boards while Yao was in the game. I also thought Wesley played a solid floor game. Luther Head was very silent, but hopefully he can come back strong next time. Oh, and McGrady lead the way, despite a troubles with his jumper.
I agree on Wesley...he even pushed the ball well for sum good fast breaks and kept the ball handling pressure off McGrady for a decent length of time. His shots seem to be falling more often and thats helping his confidence, defense and basically his whole game.
Bowen hustles more than anybody on the court on either side, he is never at a stand still and bugs offensive players. I said in another thread that he should be getting around 30 min. a game. HUSTLE for reb. and loose balls out shadow his horrible O. The O chemistry is slowly rounding out along with the rotation. Beating these sub par teams is what is suppose to happen, so I wont get excited until the Rockets prove they can Beat a good team.
It seems like 35 is the magic number for McGrady. He's scored that many points three games this season and the Rockets have won every time. The Blazers played pretty good defense on Yao, but even then, I think Yao played his worst game of the season. It just seemed to me that he was boxed out on countless occasions by Przybilla, and that is why Mutombo provided such a relieving presence. Unlike Yao this game, Deke was hustling for rebounds and never giving up on defense.
35 is pretty magical I guess, as that one night McGrady scored 13 last minute points - in 35 seconds, haha.
